IKP's submission for a photography titled "Zen Influence" has been awarded a HONORABLE MENTION AWARD in 2016 FC Bank National Photography Competition.  It will be featured in company's 2017 marketing brochure.  According to Ms.Holly Barrett, Marketing Executive from CNB Bank, more than 8,000 copies will be distributed to shareholders nationwide.  Very Cool.

The Center for Architecture and Design (50 West Town Street, Suite 110, Columbus Ohio 43215) invited all chairs to be displayed at their storefront until 10.31.2013.  Chairs are available for purchase and all proceeds will benefit the Center for Creativity at the Columbus Museum of Art.  Please stop by and check them out!  Special thanks to Columbus Museum of Art, The Center for Architecture and Design, HermanMiller® and Continental Office Environment.  Click the following link to see the Good Design Challenge 2013 in detail: http://www.continentaloffice.com/blog/the-good-design-challenge/

Good Design Challenge 2013, sponsored by Continental Office Environments & Herman Miller®, invited 15 architecture and design firms around Ohio to participate in their annual design challenge.  Challenge: Take a white Eames molded plastic chair as a canvas for self-expression.  Tracy Kameoka of DesignLeveL and myself entered a competition just wanting to support the local arts community and the Columbus Museum of Art.

Charles & Ray often stated, "We want to make THE BEST for THE MOST for THE LEAST".  How wonderful this philosophy reflects the current essence of our design culture where a good design does NOT have to cost a lot of money to make it successful.  How do we manage to maintain its beauty but also enhance it without being a distraction?  Simplicity means the achievement of maximum effect with minimum means...the restraint had to be fully enforced in our design approach.  We had to find a material that will conform to its original form, but enhance it in a completely different fashion.  We chose 627 pingpong balls...they are spherical, identical, white and economical.  We finally made something that still echoes the original essence of Eames philosophy, but also reflecting our own self-expression of restraint and simplicity. What a funky chair! To our complete surprise, we were awarded a 3rd place award for our efforts.  Special thanks to Lesley Collett-Felix of Herman Miller® and Kirsten Skinner of Continental Office Environments for inviting us to participate in this fantastic competiton.  We had a great time.  

It is too easy to forget for many architects/designers to see if the project(s) they have worked so hard to complete was a success for all parties involved.  Typically, this information is only available when a post occupancy evaluation report is written and published.  Unfortunately these reports are often misguided or poorly executed.   A good news is that national organization such as WomenCertified® who identifies the country's best healthcare institutions based on robust criteria that consider female patient satisfaction and what women say they want from a hospital including quality, cleanliness, comfort, staff engagements and over all experience.  Franklin Woods Community Hospital was awarded the 2013 Women's Choice Award for being voted one of America's Best Hospitals for Patient Experience by women.

Franklin Woods Community Hospital

Johnson City, Tennessee

For decades, residents of Johnson City, Tennessee, and its neighboring communities had been served by three hospitals.  However, Mountain States Health Alliance determined that two of them were too inefficient to maintain and opted to plan a new replacement hospital.

The health system challenged the Architect not only with the consolidation, but also with constructing a facility in the mountainous landscape that would achieve LEED certification.

The preliminary design and planning phases for the project began in May 2007, with the last bid package for the fast-track project going out in August 2008. The team beat its original owner occupancy date by one month, and, thanks to minimal change orders, completed the project $4 million under budget.  To see the article: http://www.healthcaredesignmagazine.com/article/outside

Project Team: Design Director: Joseph Kuspan; Project Architect: Paul Hinders; Project Coordinator: Paul Carney; Project Designer: Ike Kameoka & Tom Brozovic; Interior Designer: Jill Grdina; Landscape Architect: Brent King; Visualization Designer: Jonathon Harris.  Photography by Peter Montanti.



Niswonger Children's Hospital featured in International Publication ArchiWorld OMNI No.7



There's a misconception in our design industry where flexibility and creativity must be absent from the typology of "Healthcare" architectural design in order for the project to be successful. Most people argue that Healthcare design is based primarily on the functionality of the project and programmatic adjacencies much more critical than the inner coherence of conceptual idea and architectural form. We dismissed this common misconception. A Good design approach applies to any typology, Healthcare is no exception. Beyond the basic internal relationships, an architectural design expresses not only the fulfillment of the program, but the making of a reality as well.  The two kinds of integrity of an architectural design, the inner coherence between the design concept and architectural form and the expression of the values upon which the design is based, can be traced back to the design's morphology.

At Niswonger Children's Hospital we took advantage of this philosophy with a design concept of two juxtaposing interlocking L's. These forms have a functional relationship to their organization of use, with one L predominantly inpatient and the other being predominantly outpatient. This juxtaposition creates voids where public spaces are found; the roof garden at its center, as well as the 3-story light slot. These elements combine to reinforce the inherent connection to nature, allowing daylight to permeate the interior, and functions as a strong wayfinding element. Functionally benign elements such as screening to hide the mechanical equipment on the roof top were replaced by a kinetic art screen designed and developed by Ned Kahn. It is a huge hit with children, but also loved by staff, adults and visitors. Photography: Ike Kameoka & Jonathon Harris

Showcasing the Power of Design in Metal:

The tree house is a bold idea and a strong branding identity for the Golisano Children's Hospital.  It is unique and its playfulness eases the experience of "going to the hospital" for children of all ages.  The tree house is not literal nor age specific: with a series of colorful volumes that change with the time of day and with the type of activity.  The idea of "perspective" is sprinkled throughout the tree house.  For those looking at it from below, it is dramatic and inspiring.  From above, the bright spacious windows highlight the magnificent hills and valleys of the region, giving a perspective that it not often perceived.  For children it is an exciting and a positive distraction.

A special thanks to CENTRIA's district manager: Jon Schlosser, CDT, CSI, for making everything possible. 

Franklin Woods Community Hospital

Johnson City, Tennessee

The AIA Columbus Chapter's annual Design Awards recognizes excellence in architectural design by Columbus architects and those within the boundaries of the AIA Columbus Chapter.  The program's purpose is to celebrate the achievements of a broad range of architectural activity in order to elevate the breadth and value of architectural practice and to honor the architects, clients and consultants who work together to improve the built environment.  For the People's Choice Award, out of over 60 projects entered, Franklin Woods Community Hospital gathered most number of votes. This was the second consecutive year that the team has won the People's Choice Award.  The intent of these awards is to educate and inspire our fellow citizens by showcasing architecture, interiors and landscape architecture projects created within the Columbus Chapter area.  The program demonstrates to the public the role of the architectural profession in enhancing the built environment.  Virtual Model by Jonathon Harris.

Ike Kameoka Photography and CENTRIA worked closely to promote the success of Golisano Children's Hospital at SUNY.  Our collaboration became much more prominent when CENTRIA selected our photo to portray their commitment to excellence in design.  "Through continuous pursuit of excellence and innovation in the design, engineering and manufacturing of exterior metal and roof systems, no other company does more to improve the aesthetics, durability and performance of our world's commercial building than Centria."

With more than a decade of extensive experience in architectural design, whenever possible we find ourselves going back to CENTRIA systems...regardless of the budget.



Youngstown East High School

Youngstown, Ohio

The building was built on a redeveloped urban site, with the academic classroom sections cascading down a partial slope. The building’s exterior is a combination of the regular geometry in the academic classrooms and the irregular geometry of the large high bay spaces. The roofscape of these areas are folded in response to the general topography of the site. Diamond Ranch High School by Morphosis was in-part the inspiration for the exterior development. The views to the west overlook a wooded ravine and Youngstown State University Campus. Moody Nolan provided design consultation during the concept and schematic design phases.

Special thanks to Paul Ricciuti, FAIA; Gary Balog, FAIA; Melissa Olson, AIA of BSHM Architects and Curtis J Moody, FAIA; Tim Colchin, AIA of Moody Nolan for allowing me the opportunity to participate in the conceptual design development of an incredibly ambitious OSFC compliant school project.



Niswonger Children's Hospital at JCMC

Johnson City, Tennessee

The AIA Columbus Chapter's annual Design Awards recognizes excellence in architectural design by Columbus architects and those within the boundaries of the AIA Columbus Chapter.  The program's purpose is to celebrate the achievements of a broad range of architectural activity in order to elevate the breadth and value of architectural practice and to honor the architects, clients and consultants who work together to improve the built environment.  For the People's Choice Award, out of 50+ projects entered, the Niswonger Children's Hospital received over 1,300 votes. The intent of these awards is to educate and inspire our fellow citizens by showcasing architecture, interiors and landscape architecture projects created within the Columbus Chapter area. The program demonstrates to the public the role of the architectural profession in enhancing the built environment. Photography by Ike Kameoka & Jonathon Harris. 

To see the amazing video of Niswonger Children's Hospital go to: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNN9zPB2KxA

Videography and Editing by Ike Kameoka, Jonathon Harris and Shaun Hamm. A special thanks to Mr.Scott M Niswonger & John Fisher for making everything possible.



Pittsburgh African American Cultural Center

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Although this project was never realized, the firm’s vision for the design was to create a new icon of African American culture, while extending the ongoing dialogue on the African American architectural aesthetic. The djembe, or talking drum, represents one of the earliest vehicles for expression and communication. The design represents the marriage of communication (via the djembe) and movement (via the amorphic glass and roof enclosures).  Project Team: Joaquin Serantes, Woojin Lim, Ichiro Kameoka, Brian Alting and Jason Dembski.  A special thanks to Curtis J Moody, FAIA, LEED AP, NCARB for believing in all of us for our commitment to pursuing excellence in design and creativity.  

Franklin Woods Community Hospital

Johnson City, Tennessee

Built into the side of a mountain on a 25-acre lot that is part of a growing MedTech Park, the Franklin Woods Community Hospital features a contemporary, environmentally friendly design that respects the natural integrity and topography of the surrounding site.  Emphasis is placed on access to natural light with visual and physical connections to nature.  The unique shape of the three-story hospital takes advantage of beautiful views of the mountains and forests, while also keeping the natural surroundings in place.  Preservation of existing majestic oak trees over 70 feet tall, allowing the building footprint to snake through the beautiful landscape, and several healing gardens on the hospital grounds serve as respite areas for patients, families, and staff.  As intended, it is the first Silver LEED-certified hospital in the state of Tennessee. 



Franklin Woods Community Hospital

Johnson City, Tennessee

Three design team members of Franklin Woods Community Hospital were invited to speak about the design approach of the project.  Ike Kameoka, M.Arch, LEED AP; Brent King, MLA, ALA, LEED AP; and Tom Brozovic,  LEED AP were invited to speak on the team's behalf.

JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. — A replacement hospital for Mountain States Health Alliance will juxtapose modern technology with a natural décor in hopes of achieving LEED certification. The Columbus, Ohio Architectural firm, Karlsberger, designed the $122 million, 240,000-square-foot Franklin Woods Community Hospital that will replace the North Side and Johnson City Specialty hospitals. The new facility is under construction and will house 80 beds, 20 of which will be dedicated to women and children’s services, and a 22-room emergency department. There will also be space to expand the facility to include 20 additional beds, if needed. The architects included several environmentally friendly features and worked around natural features of the site in an attempt to earn enough points for LEED Silver certification. “In the center of the site is a 80-foot oak tree that we wanted to preserve,” says Ike Kameoka, architectural designer for Karlsberger. “We wanted to focus on that as a driver and build the building around it without disturbing it. We basically embedded this building very gently. ”The site is on a hillside with 90-degree drops that designers used to their advantage, says Brent King, senior landscape architect for Karlsberger. Other elements, such as natural rock outcrops, were also incorporated into the site. The high point of the site features rocks with peaks that are 20 to 30 feet. Other features at the facility include plants that use a limited amount of water and are indigenous to the area, such as prairie grass. A waterfall outside the facility will use rainfall to limit water use. Patient rooms will incorporate nature through views of the forest, mountains or rooftop garden. Several natural materials are planned for the interior including cork flooring, a corn-based plastic and low-VOC flooring and wall coverings. The team also used linoleum and other non-petroleum-based products, says Tom Brozovic, architectual designer for Karlsberger. “We have natural stone walls, bamboo and green materials for flooring,” he says. The orientation of the building and high-performance glass will be used to limit heat gain and direct sunlight during the summer and use the sun’s warmth during winter months. The HVAC system and natural ventilation are designed to minimize electricity use. Water conservation was another important element for the design team. Low-flush toilets, infrared-operated sinks and rainwater were utilized in the design. Rain harvesting will limit the need for watering systems, Kameoka says. “We’ve minimized the amount of underground piping as much as we could so everything is filtered through biosoils,” he says. Over the next few years, Mountain States Health Alliance will construct three hospitals and apply green features to each facility, according to officials. Construction is expected to be completed by summer 2010.  Virtual Rendering by Jonathon Harris, ASAI.



NCCU: Modernization and Expansion of W.G. Pearson Cafeteria

Durham, North Carolina

The site solution in this new building complements the university planning.  A new entry was developed to resolve the problem of a street side entrance.  An "internal street" was developed to enhance the Academic Quad, as a meeting place on campus, by guiding people through the new cafeteria and into the quadrangle.   The building is traversed by a main circulation artery-an internal pedestrian street that cuts diagonally through the site, bridging the gap between the institutional area of campus to the south and the residential area to the north.  By a walkway, gallery, stairs, ramps and a handicapped lift, the internal street moves and descends from Lawson Street to the Academic Quad twelve feet below.  This design approach was inspired by Kunsthal in Rotterdam, by OMA and Carpenter Center in Cambridge, Massachusetts by LeCorbusier.  Project Team: Curtis J Moody, FAIA, LEED AP, Principal in Charge of Design; Casey Annunzio, AIA, LEED AP, Project Architect; Ichiro Kameoka, M.Arch, LEED AP, Project Designer; Virtual Rendering by Brian Alting.  A special thanks to José Oubrerie for encouranging us to travel all over the world to truly see and experience Architecture and learn from them.